Oceanspray

Holodiscus discolor

Rosaceae

• Keystone plant
• Spokane Native
• Sun-Shade
• Size: 20’ tall x 8’ wide
• Drought Tolerant: Yes
• Evergreen: no
• Flower Color: creamy white / pink (May - July)
• Wildlife Value: birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects

Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with gracefully arching branches. Fast-growing and adaptable to most soil types including rocky, sandy, and clay soils. Tolerates full sun to part shade. Height typically 6-8 feet, but can reach 10-15 feet in optimal conditions with excellent drainage.

Large, cascading clusters of tiny creamy-white flowers resemble ocean spray, creating a spectacular display in late spring through summer. Flowers age to cream then tan, maintaining visual interest. Small, lobed leaves are bright green above and pale beneath, turning yellow to orange in fall. Attractive branching structure provides winter interest. Strong, hard wood was historically valued by Native Americans.

Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Serves as a larval host plant for Tiger Swallowtail butterflies (Pale, Western, and Two-Tailed species). Seeds provide food for birds in late summer and fall. Dense branching offers excellent cover and nesting sites for wildlife. Historically, the Lummi used flowers medicinally as an antidiarrheal and leaves as a poultice. The exceptionally strong wood ("Ironwood") was used for making arrow shafts, digging sticks, fishing hooks, and needles by Pacific Northwest tribes.

Excellent as a specimen plant, hedge, screen, or naturalized planting. Ideal for erosion control on slopes and banks. Perfect for wildlife gardens, restoration projects, and low-maintenance landscapes. Thrives in dry, rocky sites and is often a pioneer species in disturbed areas. Can be pruned to shape or maintained as a small multi-trunked tree. Combines well with native groundcovers like Salal and Oregon Grape beneath.